The prostate is a male sex
gland which produces a thick fluid that forms part
of the semen. Prostate cancer results from an abnormal
growth of the cells in the prostate.
What causes it?
The causes for prostate cancer
are not yet fully understood. Prostate cancer tends
to happen in older men and is rarely found in men
below the age of 50.
The major risk factors of
prostate cancer include:
Diet that is high in animal fat and low in fibre
(fruit and vegetables)
A family history of prostate cancer
Exposure to chemicals, such as cadmium and dioxin
In Hong Kong, the incidence of prostate cancer has increased at the fastest rate among all cancers affecting men.
What are
the common symptoms?
Early prostate cancer has no symptom
and many cases go undetected. For the symptomatic ones,
common signs and symptoms of prostate cancer include:
Difficulty or delays in urinating
Slow or weak stream of urine
Pain while urinating
Blood in urine
Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area
Pain in the lower back, pelvis and hips
How
can I prevent it?
Certainly adopting a healthy
lifestyle minimizes the risk of getting prostate cancer.
This means you have to eat lots of fruits, vegetables,
grains and cereals, but not much meat and animal fat.
If you have a family history
of prostate cancer, consult your doctor on this for
the necessity of screening.
What should I do if
I have suspicious symptoms?
If you notice any symptoms
as described above, you should consult a doctor immediately.
For suspected cases, the
doctor may carry out some investigations. These include
rectal examination, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound
examination and procedures to obtain tissue samples
for laboratory examination.
Screening for prostate cancer?
The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is commonly used for detecting prostate cancer. However, unless you experience symptoms, before you decide to go for a PSA blood test, consider the following facts:
About 15 to 25% of men with prostate cancer may not have a raised PSA.
A raised PSA can be caused by other conditions such as BPH, prostatitis (inflammation of prostate) and infection. 2 out of 3 men with a raised PSA do not have prostate cancer, which means some will eventually be given unnecessary further tests such as needle biopsy. These tests have risks.
Prostate cancer is not always an aggressive disease. Many men with prostate cancer don't have symptoms and do not die from it. These men don’t really need treatment, which may have side effects on its own and may cause more problems than the cancer does.
So, discuss with your family doctor about the pros and cons before making the decision of having a “screening” PSA blood test.
What
is the treatment?
The doctor will recommend
the optimal treatment depending on the size of the
tumour, along with the extent to which it affects
the patient's life, and the presence of any other
medical conditions. For some men, especially those
who are older or having other medical problems, the
"treatment" of choice may simply be "watchful
waiting" with regular medical examination to
make sure that the tumour has not begun to grow rapidly.
If treatment is needed,
treatment for prostate cancer may include surgery,
chemotherapy (use of anti-cancer or hormonal drugs),
or radiotherapy (use of x-rays to target and kill
cancer cells), alone or in combination.
How can I help myself?
If you have a diagnosis of prostate
cancer, there are many things you can do to cope better
and to improve your quality of life, including:
Understand your illness and its treatment.
Talk to someone (your partner, a friend or counselor)
how you feel.
Learn how to cooperate with the people involved with
your care, including the health professionals, your family
and friends.
Take part in support groups to boost the ability to
self-care and to obtain mutual support.
Eat properly and have a healthy diet.
Exercise regularly under medical supervision.
Avoid stress, learn relaxation techniques and do things
that you can enjoy.
If you have any suspicions, you
should seek medical advice.
Balanced Diet
Men's Health Day
If any of your family members suffer from prostate cancer, you should ask your doctor for any necessary screening.
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